"Pavard?"

In the Old World, Brittania, within the Winford Duchy, in the town center of Gene Town, on Champion Avenue, at a bar named "Holy Grail Praise," Holy Grail Knight Armand and Kingdom Knight Hex were chatting about the Knight Promotion Order. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

This bar was the most upscale in town, where you could find all the finest wines from around the world, including Wood Elf Fruit Wine, top-grade wines from Winford's major vineyards like "Obion," "Latu," and "Lysa Lus," the Empire's crafted top-grade malt beer "Koben's Finest" (royal special), Dwarf Bagman Beer, and superb Magic Brew from the High Elves.

Some guests, who were distinguished enough, could even taste "Lady's Collection," made from grapes cultivated and brewed personally by the Lake Fairy beside the Fairy Tower.

The production of "Lady's Collection" was very limited, so only a few had the privilege to taste it. Even though the Griffin Duke Ivan from the Empire, after tasting all Brittania's fine wines and "Lady's Collection," acknowledged that the taste of Lady's Collection was superior to all other wines of the Old World, he still found it slightly inferior to Winford's super first-class wine "Lysa Lus." Nonetheless, all the people of Brittania unwaveringly believed that Lady's Collection was the finest wine in the world.

Even Count Laine's father-in-law, Francois, firmly believed so.

The bar had few guests, undoubtedly they were significant figures of the Old World, great nobles, Holy Grail Knights, Expedition Knights, and wealthy merchants. The bar's ownership was always a mystery; people only knew that besides the Count and Countess, the Lady seemed to have a hand in it. At least, Her Highness Mogiana, the Lake God Witch, was known to occasionally appear there, and the bar also provided free drinks and meals for passing Expedition Knights.

The hardwood floors were glossy and new, and a Lake God Prophet was tallying the drinks behind the bar. The white Magic Lamp illuminated the interior, and the reflections on the bar made of top-quality pear wood and the tables and chairs. Patterns of golden Holy Grails and iris flowers covered the inside of the bar, and the knights and nobles present were mostly polite — those who were disrespectful would be quickly dragged out and marked as unwelcome.

The Kingdom's nobles, various known figures, and some foreign merchants who came to visit longed to drink in this bar, but it only had twenty seats, with some booths reserved up to a month in advance.

Hex was somewhat uncomfortable, his cold gaze and the deep aspiration to revive his family made the Kingdom Knight uncharacteristically reserved. His glass was empty, unlike Holy Grail Knight Armand, who had the confidence to loudly ask the Lake God Prophet Miss behind the bar for a refill — in this Kingdom, the Lake God Prophets enjoyed immense privileges, unbound by law, and only Mogiana and those like Laine, favored by the Lady, could command them.

Hex, serving under Laine, was responsible for military training, especially for the Peasant Infantry Corps and the sergeants. His perpetually stern demeanor made the soldiers rather afraid of him.

In contrast to Hex, Holy Grail Knight Armand's face bore nothing but ease and enthusiasm.

The Blood Red Duke was dead, the great family vendetta avenged. The Holy Grail Knight, who vowed revenge against the Blood Red Duke since childhood, could finally lay down his heavy mental burden and proceed lightly. Seeing Hex's empty glass, he downed his large beer mug and gestured: "Miss, we need a refill."

The Lake God Prophet refilled both of their glasses with the Empire's fine dark beer.

With beef pies and creamy cod chowder, Armand said, "Where were we?"

"About Pavard, the legendary figure who rose from a peasant to a Holy Grail Knight."

"Yes, Pavard," Armand nodded, whispering. "Pavard is a true legend; this venerable man spent his entire life accomplishing an unbelievable myth."

"Pavard was born in a remote village. From a young age, he decided to devote all his faith to the Lady. Since he was just a peasant, the path left to him was straightforward — he became a Holy Grail Pilgrim, following the renowned Holy Grail Knight Sir Laroque most of his life, and decades of arduous journey made him an excellent warrior."

"After fighting under Sir Laroque most of his life, Pavard, already in his fifties, faced a great trial. Sir Laroque was guarding a Holy Grail Church when it was attacked by a Skaven Ratmen army. The Holy Grail Knight led the Holy Grail Pilgrims in a desperate battle against the Skaven Ratmen. Ultimately, Sir Laroque and the Ratman Warlord died together, with the Holy Grail Pilgrims suffering heavy casualties, nearly all perishing."

"All perished?" Hex could imagine the fierce battle, sensing that the Skaven Ratmen must have been trying to steal the Holy Artifact from the Holy Grail Church. The Holy Grail Knight and Pilgrims were outnumbered, but they would not waver, persisting until the last moment.

"All but Pavard… This peasant in his fifties astonishingly defended the Holy Grail Church and Sir Laroque's corpse alone for three hours! He held out until reinforcements arrived, annihilating the Ratmen! It's said when the Duke's reinforcements reached him, Pavard was drenched in blood, delirious, and driving his broken sword into a Rat Giant's skull!"